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Faecal Hydrogen Production in vitro as an Indicator for in vivo Hydrogen Producing Capability in the Breath Hydrogen Test
Author(s) -
ROBB T. A.,
GOODWIN D. A.,
DAVIDSON G. P.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1985.tb10061.x
Subject(s) - lactulose , hydrogen breath test , medicine , in vivo , malabsorption , breath test , hydrogen production , hydrogen , feces , gastroenterology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , helicobacter pylori , organic chemistry
.In the assessment of carbohydrate malabsorption, it is important to determine if a flat breath hydrogen test is a false negative result. Currently, the only reliable way to do this is with a lactulose test. We determined the reliability of assessing faecal hydrogen production as an indicator of an adequate in vivo hydrogen producing colonic bacterial flora. Unfortunately, the results clearly show that the incidence of falsely positive and negative faecal hydrogen production, when compared with in vivo lactulose testing, is so high that the simple faeces screening test is unsuitable for routine use. Until a simpler alternative is found, centres using the breath hydrogen test to determine carbohydrate malabsorption must continue to rely on lactulose breath testing when it is necessary to exclude potential false negative results .